The Wishing Stone

By Mir Foote

Everyone has heard the warning to be careful what you wish for. Fewer know to be careful of a wish interrupted. Five children think they have the perfect, foolproof wish. They wish for adventures through time and space, for super powers, and for pirate treasure all at once. Now, thanks to a mysterious stone, the wish is coming true. Soon they are stranded on an island at the other end of the universe, beset by pirates and alien monkeys, and searching through a trap infested tomb for jewels of power. But as their wish slowly unfolds, they realize they forgot a very important part, and now the real treasure they’re searching for is a way back home.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Mir Foote
• Release date: Nov 28, 2013
• ISBN: 9781311113511

Mir Foote

Mir Foote grew up in the country, in a small community called Whitehawk. There she had the woods for her playground, dirt roads for her adventures, and an entire wilderness for inspiration. She was lulled to sleep at night by the sound of drums and coyote calls. By day, she explored.Now, the world is her playground. She spent a year of school in France and another month in Prague. She taught English for a year in South Korea. She has walked on the Great Wall of China, scaled Reichenbach Falls where Sherlock Holmes nearly met his match, and stood in the ruins of Pompeii.Mir Foote is a world traveler, an amateur linguist, and lover of the written word. Currently, she is looking into the far reaches of the past and future, exploring new stories, and working on her next book.

Book preview

The Wishing Stone

Book 1 of 7 within the Chronicles of Evrion

By Mir Foote

Smashwords Edition

ISBN: 9781311113511

©2012 by MIR Foote

All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition, License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work this author.

For Liam, when you’re old enough. Never grow too old for adventure.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: The Wish

Chapter 2: Through Time

Chapter 3: Through Space

Chapter 4: Explorers Robinson

Chapter 5: Pirates

Chapter 6: Almost

Chapter 7: More Pirates

Chapter 8: Treasure

Chapter 9: Super Powers

Chapter 10: Almost Finished

Bonus Excerpt

About the Author

Chapter 1

THE WISH

The problem with the wishing stone, Jackson decided, was that there was only one wish for the four of them. The rules were very clear on that.

I say we should wish for a space adventure, Jane said, We could fly a space ship and visit alien planets.

We should wish for mutant powers, Trey insisted, Then we could all be super heroes.

I want to go on a real adventure! Ian exclaimed, With pirates and dragons and battles! And we could have magical powers and rescue a princess and everything!

Jackson did not say what he thought they should wish for. He was still thinking it over. While the other three argued over a wish, he took a brand new spiral notebook out from his backpack. He also took out a black ballpoint pen, frowned at it, and put it back to fish out another. He only used black pens on schoolwork. This time, he pulled out a pen with green ink.

Hey, what are you doing? Trey demanded when he saw the notebook, Are you even listening to our ideas?

You never told us what you think we should wish for, Jane added.

You want pirates right? asked Jackson’s younger brother, Ian, And treasure and magic, right Jackson?

Jax, Jackson corrected him sharply, Call me Jax. He had been telling them to call him Jax for two weeks now. No one ever did. And I haven’t decided on a wish yet. I’m going to write down all the different ideas first.

At the top of the first page he wrote ‘The Wishing Stone’ and below that ‘Wish Ideas’. His handwriting was not as neat as he would have liked, because he had no flat surface to write on, but it was readable. Then he divided the page into four sections. The first section he labeled Trey, then Jane, Ian, and the last space was for himself. He started to write out Jackson and remembered at the last second to put Jax instead.

What is this? Trey asked, grabbing the notebook, You aren’t going to turn this into another school assignment are you? Come on, it’s just a stupid game. Lighten up.

It’s not just a game! Ian exclaimed, leaping to his brother’s defense, This is for real! We followed the map and everything, even with all the town and trees in the way, and you can see the stone! Jackson grabbed his notebook back.

Come on, Trey, Jane said, Let him write it all out if he wants to. It makes it all feel more real anyway. Sort of scientific.

It is real, Ian said again, Write down my wish, Jackson. Jax I mean. I want to go on a huge adventure with pirates, where we find a great treasure and become rich and there are dragons and magical talismans, and castles!

All right, Jackson answered, writing it down in the space marked ‘Ian’. Then Jane told him all about her wish concerning robots and a spaceship and exploring alien planets.

This is so stupid, Trey said when the other three turned to him, Oh all right. I think we should wish for mutant powers. Like to be able to fly or shoot lasers from our eyes and be bulletproof. Then all that was left was the space marked ‘Jax’.

Come on already, Trey said, This is getting boring.

Hush, Jane said.

Well it is getting boring, Trey insisted, Like being at school.

No, I mean hush, I think I see someone coming, Jane said, and then everyone turned to see where she was looking. There, between the trees, Jackson saw a person coming towards them, plowing awkwardly through the leafy undergrowth of the woods.

I’ll bet it’s that stupid Marcus Henderson, Trey said, I’ll bet he followed us out here.

It’s not, Jackson answered, I think it’s a girl. And then the person managed to break through some particularly vicious bramble and everyone could clearly see that she was wearing a dress.

Ha, Jane said to Trey, poking him, but Jackson frowned as he realized that the girl was trying to get to where they were.

If she sees the stone, she’ll have to be in the wish, he reminded them, It’s in the rules. And then the girl stepped between two trees and stood before them.

Hello, the girl said timidly, I’m lost.

Really? Hello Lost, I’m Trey, Trey said, smirking until Jane shoved him.

Ignore him, she said, Where are you from?

I don’t know exactly, the girl answered and then turned red as the other four stared at her. I just moved here. It’s a small sort of white house. Close to these woods. I didn’t realize how big this place was and I got turned around. Then I heard voices and followed them here.

What’s your name? Jackson asked. He tried hard to remember if he had noticed any new families moving in near his house. He didn’t think there were.

I’m Emma Woods. I just moved from Houston.

My name is Jane Park, Jane said, And I suppose Trey already told you his name. He really isn’t always that annoying.

I’m not annoying, Trey insisted, She just can’t handle a joke.

I’m Ian Ian said, not wanting to be left out, I’m five.

We call him Brat, Trey added.

I’m not, Ian answered, stamping his foot, My name is Ian and I’m Jackson’s brother. As an afterthought, he added, This is Jackson.

Jax, Jackson interjected quickly, My name is Jax. Jax Robinson.

So what are you doing out here in the woods? Emma asked. Her eyes were on his notebook, and he held it up against himself quickly so she couldn’t read the title. Nobody answered. Then Trey opened his mouth and Jackson quickly said, Exploring, before Trey could say something stupid. In the mood he was in, Trey was likely to tell her about the stone and ruin everything.

Exploring? Emma asked, You have an unlucky name for an explorer. And then she began to turn red again under his stare.

What’s so unlucky about Jackson? Trey wanted to know, and this time Jackson didn’t bother to correct him.

Not Jackson, she answered, Robinson. Like Robinson Crusoe. Or the Swiss Family Robinson. They got shipwrecked on an island. Or even that old TV show, Lost in Space, about a family named Robinson who got lost.

I never get lost, Jackson insisted, I’m too careful.

Good, Emma said, Then maybe you could help me find my way back. I really do need to get back; my parents told me not to wander off.

An awkward silence answered her. Jackson looked down at his notebook, feeling uncomfortable. The rules said they had to make a wish now, while they were next to the stone. If they went away they would never be able to make a wish. Not a real wish anyway. Not a wish that they could all almost believe might really come true. If they went away and came back, then it really was pretend. No one wanted to do that. But they couldn’t just send Emma off alone, either, and for a moment no one could think of anything to say.

Oh, this is stupid, Trey said at last, Just show her the stone already.

Shut up, Trey! Ian exclaimed angrily while Jane shoved Trey in annoyance. Jackson stared down at his notebook, ignoring the scuffle beside him. Then he came to a decision.

He’s right.

What! Jackson! The others protested loudly and Emma turned pinker than ever.

He’s right, Jackson insisted again, She came to here, so she has to see the stone. Maybe she was meant to come, somehow. Maybe the stone called her.

She isn’t! I bet she says it’s stupid and ruins everything! Ian insisted, stomping his foot.

You weren’t supposed to be here either, Jane reminded Ian, You were just being a brat and following us, and we let you stay.

I say it’s stupid, Trey added, Just show her, Jackson.

Alright, Jackson said, and everyone stepped aside so she could see the stone. It was a fairly large and smooth stone, the sort that looked like it would make a good seat, but aside from its size it looked quite ordinary. At least it did until Emma looked closer and saw that there were words carved out in deep, clear-cut lettering. She leaned over the stone, still mystified, and then began to read it out loud.

"All who approach and read my words,

to you a single